Leading Senior Constable Peter Dyer, from Bendigo Highway Patrol, said there were underlying issues associated with drinking and driving in a school zone, such as alcoholism.

“It’s obviously a real concern for us,” he said.

Leading Senior Constable Dyer urged people who knew someone who drove under the influence of alcohol to “have a long hard think” about the potential consequences if they failed to speak up, if someone was killed as a result of that person getting behind the wheel after drinking.

He said those who knew of someone who drank and drove should make a report to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

EARLIER: A woman has been caught allegedly speeding and drink-driving at more than double the legal blood alcohol limit in a Flora Hill school zone.

The 35-year-old Lockwood South woman was intercepted by police on Ellis Street after she was seen driving at an alleged 52 km/h in the 40 km/h zone about 3pm Friday.

A subsequent breath test returned a positive result and she was taken back to the police station, where she allegedly returned a blood alcohol concentration reading of 0.106.

Her car has been impounded for 30 days and she is expected to be charged on summons for speed and alcohol-related offences.

It is the third time this month police have caught people allegedly drink-driving in school zones in Bendigo.

On November 7, police caught a 40-year-old woman in Leslie Street, Marong, allegedly driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.216 per cent – more than four times the legal limit.

She was picking two children up from school at the time.

She was charged with drink-driving, her licence was suspended and her car was impounded.

The following day, a 32-year-old woman allegedly returned a reading of 0.169 after being pulled over in White Hills about 9am.

Police believe she had dropped children off at a nearby primary school before she was pulled over.

Her licence was immediately suspended, her car impounded and she was to face court on charges of drink-driving.